The TCP/IP and OSI Networking Models

This chapter explains the terminology and concepts behind the world’s most popular networking model, TCP/IP, including several example protocols: HTTP, TCP, IP, and Ethernet. It also explains the terminology behind the OSI networking model in comparison to TCP/IP.

You can think of a networking model as you think of a set of architectural plans for building a house. Sure, you can build a house without the architectural plans, but it will work better if you follow the plans. And because you probably have a lot of different people working on building your house, such as framers, electricians, bricklayers, painters, and so on, it helps if they can all reference the same plan. Similarly, you could build your own network, write your own software, build your own networking cards, and create a network without using any existing networking model. However, it is much easier to simply buy and use products that already conform to some well-known networking model. Because the networking product vendors use the same networking model, their products should work well together.

The CCNA exams include detailed coverage of one networking model: Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). TCP/IP is the most pervasively used networking model in the history of networking. You can find support for TCP/IP on practically every computer operating system (OS) in existence today, from mobile phones to mainframe computers. Every network built using Cisco products today supports TCP/IP. And not surprisingly, the CCNA exams focus heavily on TCP/IP.

The ICND1 exam, and the ICND2 exam to a small extent, also covers a second networking model, called the Open System Interconnection (OSI) reference model. Historically, OSI was the first large effort to create a vendor-neutral networking model. Because of that timing, many of the terms used in networking today come from the OSI model, so this chapter’s section on OSI discusses OSI and the related terminology.

“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz

The “Do I Know This Already?” quiz allows you to assess if you should read the entire chapter. If you miss no more than one of these ten self-assessment questions, you might want to move ahead to the “Exam Preparation Tasks” section. Table 2-1 lists the major headings in this chapter and the “Do I Know This Already?” quiz questions covering the material in those headings so you can assess your knowledge of these specific areas. The answers to the “Do I Know This Already?” quiz appear in Appendix A, “Answers to the ‘Do I Know This Already?’ Quizzes.”